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Best states for a field engineer
Quoted expert
Klaus Dölle
- Rank 1 - 10
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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for field engineers in the United States. Field engineer positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for field engineers.We wanted to look at the best states for field engineers -- where there are plenty of field engineer jobs to go around and field engineers get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.
To that end, we dove into our dataset of job and salary numbers to figure out which states have the best opportunities for field engineers. Washington is the best state for field engineers, where the median salary is $93,209.If you are currently seeking employment as a field engineer, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for field engineers in 2026
1. Washington
Total field engineer jobs: 1,625 Average annual salary: $93,209 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location Quotient: 1.2
2. California
Total field engineer jobs: 7,981 Average annual salary: $87,646 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location Quotient: 1.47
3. Virginia
Total field engineer jobs: 2,192 Average annual salary: $83,036 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location Quotient: 1.26
4. Massachusetts
Total field engineer jobs: 2,158 Average annual salary: $82,620 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
5. New Mexico
Total field engineer jobs: 385 Average annual salary: $74,980 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
6. Idaho
Total field engineer jobs: 274 Average annual salary: $80,938 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
7. District of Columbia
Total field engineer jobs: 348 Average annual salary: $84,166 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
8. North Carolina
Total field engineer jobs: 1,651 Average annual salary: $76,558 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location Quotient: 0.93
9. North Dakota
Total field engineer jobs: 205 Average annual salary: $69,100 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
10. Pennsylvania
Total field engineer jobs: 1,738 Average annual salary: $78,467 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location Quotient: 0.81
Field engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a field engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a field engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $93,209 | $62,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,625 |
| 2 | California | $87,646 | $57,000 | 39,536,653 | 7,981 |
| 3 | Virginia | $83,036 | $55,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,192 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $82,620 | $56,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,158 |
| 5 | New Mexico | $74,980 | $50,000 | 2,088,070 | 385 |
| 6 | Idaho | $80,938 | $53,000 | 1,716,943 | 274 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $84,166 | $55,000 | 693,972 | 348 |
| 8 | North Carolina | $76,558 | $51,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,651 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $69,100 | $48,000 | 755,393 | 205 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $78,467 | $52,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,738 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $82,072 | $55,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,118 |
| 12 | Maryland | $76,621 | $50,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,375 |
| 13 | Texas | $70,399 | $47,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,764 |
| 14 | Michigan | $69,569 | $46,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,434 |
| 15 | New York | $75,844 | $50,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,191 |
| 16 | Illinois | $71,171 | $48,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,805 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $67,736 | $46,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,275 |
| 18 | Oregon | $67,623 | $44,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,038 |
| 19 | Oklahoma | $69,037 | $47,000 | 3,930,864 | 430 |
| 20 | Missouri | $68,791 | $47,000 | 6,113,532 | 898 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $68,894 | $46,000 | 3,588,184 | 633 |
| 22 | Alabama | $65,202 | $44,000 | 4,874,747 | 738 |
| 23 | Louisiana | $68,959 | $46,000 | 4,684,333 | 344 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $67,427 | $45,000 | 1,815,857 | 148 |
| 25 | Vermont | $66,772 | $45,000 | 623,657 | 142 |
| 26 | Wyoming | $62,933 | $42,000 | 579,315 | 125 |
| 27 | Delaware | $66,151 | $44,000 | 961,939 | 233 |
| 28 | Nevada | $64,670 | $42,000 | 2,998,039 | 360 |
| 29 | Iowa | $63,936 | $43,000 | 3,145,711 | 593 |
| 30 | Arizona | $63,140 | $42,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,348 |
| 31 | Maine | $64,113 | $44,000 | 1,335,907 | 236 |
| 32 | Florida | $66,279 | $44,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,458 |
| 33 | Utah | $62,077 | $41,000 | 3,101,833 | 706 |
| 34 | Rhode Island | $65,987 | $44,000 | 1,059,639 | 166 |
| 35 | Georgia | $65,129 | $44,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,657 |
| 36 | Ohio | $62,319 | $41,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,645 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $63,841 | $43,000 | 6,715,984 | 741 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $62,856 | $48,000 | 1,427,538 | 173 |
| 39 | Colorado | $62,878 | $42,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,348 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $62,234 | $42,000 | 5,795,483 | 969 |
| 41 | Kansas | $63,401 | $43,000 | 2,913,123 | 430 |
| 42 | New Hampshire | $62,674 | $42,000 | 1,342,795 | 332 |
| 43 | Alaska | $66,751 | $53,000 | 739,795 | 110 |
| 44 | Indiana | $61,442 | $41,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,025 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $62,135 | $43,000 | 869,666 | 104 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $62,166 | $42,000 | 1,920,076 | 306 |
| 47 | Montana | $58,680 | $39,000 | 1,050,493 | 203 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $59,287 | $40,000 | 5,024,369 | 721 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $59,561 | $40,000 | 2,984,100 | 270 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $59,495 | $40,000 | 3,004,279 | 325 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $56,917 | $38,000 | 4,454,189 | 415 |
Highest paying states for field engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Field Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $93,209 |
| 2 | California | $87,646 |
| 3 | Virginia | $83,036 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $82,620 |
| 5 | New Mexico | $74,980 |
| 6 | Idaho | $80,938 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $84,166 |
| 8 | North Carolina | $76,558 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $69,100 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $78,467 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $82,072 |
| 12 | Maryland | $76,621 |
| 13 | Texas | $70,399 |
| 14 | Michigan | $69,569 |
| 15 | New York | $75,844 |
| 16 | Illinois | $71,171 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $67,736 |
| 18 | Oregon | $67,623 |
| 19 | Oklahoma | $69,037 |
| 20 | Missouri | $68,791 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $68,894 |
| 22 | Alabama | $65,202 |
| 23 | Louisiana | $68,959 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $67,427 |
| 25 | Vermont | $66,772 |
| 26 | Wyoming | $62,933 |
| 27 | Delaware | $66,151 |
| 28 | Nevada | $64,670 |
| 29 | Iowa | $63,936 |
| 30 | Arizona | $63,140 |
| 31 | Maine | $64,113 |
| 32 | Florida | $66,279 |
| 33 | Utah | $62,077 |
| 34 | Rhode Island | $65,987 |
| 35 | Georgia | $65,129 |
| 36 | Ohio | $62,319 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $63,841 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $62,856 |
| 39 | Colorado | $62,878 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $62,234 |
| 41 | Kansas | $63,401 |
| 42 | New Hampshire | $62,674 |
| 43 | Alaska | $66,751 |
| 44 | Indiana | $61,442 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $62,135 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $62,166 |
| 47 | Montana | $58,680 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $59,287 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $59,561 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $59,495 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $56,917 |
Expert opinions on the best states for field engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for field engineers to find work opportunities?
Klaus Dölle
Associate Professor, School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences Senior Sustainability Scientist, Global Institute of Sustainability, SUNY College
Our graduates have no problems finding a well-paid job in the U.S. Paper Engineers are in high demand. More Paper Engineers are needed by the industry than Universities can produce. Currently, starting salary is around $70k.
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Updated January 8, 2025